Fox ranch



Dec. 4, 1928.

WIRES TO RADIO L. A. JORDAN Filed Oct. 19, 1925 Patented Dec. 4, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

FOX RANCH.

Application filed October 19, 1925. Serial No. 63,424.

This invention consists generally in improvements for fox ranches and more particularly in improved means for assisting the fox rancher to keep in touch with the foxes in each pen especially during the breeding period when. the foxes are very susceptible and antagonistic to any kind of interference by human beings.

By the use of my improved means, consisting essentially of a novel arrangement of radio parts, the rancher can determine when the young foxes arrive and how they are doing it being unadvisable to approach the fox pen at this time as any disturbance of the foxes has, in most cases, disastrous results.

Vith my improved means the rancher can hear the young foxes at feeding time and can ascertain if they are being sufliciently nourished. If they are not being sufliciently nourished they will continue to yelp and squeal and the mother, in endeavouring to uiet them, may carry them out and destroy t em or they may be killed by cold. Being able, through my improved means, to know from a distance practically whatis taking place in the pens enables one to take the necessary steps to correct matters and thus avoid the loss of the young foxes.

For accurately keeping a check on the age of the young foxes my improved means are also invaluable; and the various sounds from the pen are so magnified when transmitted that the rancher can determine What action is necessary without going to the pen to find out the conditionandthereby avoid doing anything that might alarm the foxes and cause-them to destroy the young.

The device may be connected to any num ber of pens while those who have installed their radio apparatus can use the batteries and phones belonging to them in connection with my improved means.

Referring to the drawings in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding partsin each figure,

Figure 1 is a plan view of .my apparatus installed, and

Figure 2 wiring.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, 10 designates the fox ranch as a whole is a diagrammatic view of the comprising a series of fox pens 11, of well known construction, with microphones 12 installed in each pen in any convenient position. Suitably arranged in the home of the rancher or keeper and connected by a plurality of lead wires 13 leading from the microphones 12 in each pen, is the amplifier 14 mounted on a table 15 and connected in a well known manner to the A and B batteries 16 and 17, respectively, the upright members 18 supporting the wires 13.

Referring to the diagrammatic illustration of Figure 2, the circuit itself as illustrated here is well known and. comprises a transformer 19 and valve 20, rheostat 21, microphones 12, lead wires 13,'A and B batteries 16 and 17, previously mentioned indicator switch 22 and double-throw switch 23. The only exception in this circuit is the additional transformer 24 which is used to step the lower voltage out of the circuit to a higher voltage as is required by the amplifier circuit.

In operation the rancher or keeper, wishing to hear what is going on in any one of the pens, first throws in the switch 23 which, contacting with the wires 25, closes the amplifying circuit. The rheostat 21 is then operated. The. switch member 22'is then operated to connect with any desired pen, the numbers of the pens being indicated on the switch 22. He then places the ear-phones 26 in position and isable to detect the most minute sound which may be occurring in the pen, the amplifying of the sound by the operation of the circuit making it distinctly audible, thereby informing the rancher that the young foxes are feeding properly or that all is not well within the pen and thus enabling him to take the necessary steps to correct the matter at once, all this information being ascertained with-f out in any way disturbing the animals within the pens.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of my invention, within the scope of the claim, constructed without departing from the spirit or scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification and drawingsbe interpreted in an illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim as my invention is:

The combination with an animal pen or cage, of means for reproducing and transmitting sound made by the animals therein,

5 whereby the knowledge of conditions within the pen is obtainable without visiting the pen, and comprising a microphone, a radio circuit, a double throw switch whereby the low Voltage and resistance of the microphonic circuit is substituted for the higher voltage 10 and resistance of the radio circuit.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

LEONARD ARTHUR JORDAN. 

